Comparison

Packing Pro vs PackLight for Backpacking

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Packing Pro

Create, customize, and share unlimited travel packing lists. Features an expert assistant to automatically generate lists based on trip details and preferences. Syncs across devices and offers extensive catalog and sample list options.

Highlights
  • Unlimited customizable packing lists
  • Expert list assistant for automatic generation
  • iCloud sync and device-to-device auto-sync
  • Packing list sharing via email and cloud services
  • Extensive master catalog with over 800 items
  • Numerous sample packing lists
  • CSV import/export for computer editing
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

** Featured in Apple's "10 Essentials," "Traveling Home" & "Staff Favorites" ** ** #1 Travel app in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Italy, Brazil & more! ** ** As seen on CNN, BBC, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fodor's, ** ** Travel+Leisure, Budget Travel, Mashable, WIRED, 148Apps, Gizmodo & Macworld ** ** UNIVERSAL APP (+iCloud) -- optimized for iPad, iPhone & iPod touch ** ** Great Value -- like getting two apps in one! ** MEDIA REACTION: "Do you like to get organized? Like, really organized? Then Packing Pro is the app for you." -- The New York Times "Never again will I forget to bring socks to a three day convention, and that alone makes Packing Pro worth every penny." -- 148Apps (rating: 4.5 / 5) "If you travel, and always wind up on a mad dash to the pharmacy, or convenience store, this app is for you." -- TUAW Packing Pro is a super-enhanced mobile travel list app that features unlimited, 100% customizable packing lists. If you also desire great syncing & sharing options, a huge catalog, lots of sample lists, display customization & additional, built-in Expert assistance, then Packing Pro is for you! PACKING PRO BENEFITS: 1) FULL iCLOUD SUPPORT: -- device-to-device auto-sync support for lists, catalog & settings 2) PACKING LIST SHARING & BACKUP: -- share lists & catalog content via email, AirDrop, Dropbox/Box/iCloud Drive & iTunes; use the simple '1-tap backup to email' 3) EXPERT LIST ASSISTANT: -- "automagically" create lists based on the number of adults (males & females), children & days, as well as temperature, destination, food preparation & clothes washing preferences 4) HUGE MASTER CATALOG: -- over 400 new items (total of over 800), including extra items for babies, kids, pets, sports, cooking & religion 5) TWICE AS MANY SAMPLE PACKING LISTS: -- including ones for couples, families, business people & campers 6) CUSTOMIZABLE DESIGN: -- includes app-wide themes, layout & font choices, & nearly full control over all the colors & textures in the app 7) CSV IMPORT / EXPORT: -- edit your lists & catalog content on a computer with Excel, Numbers or GoogleDocs 8) SMART SEARCH: -- easy & intuitive search function CORE PACKING FEATURES (in both Packing Pro & Packing): 1) PACKING LIST FEATURES: - CREATE unlimited, 100% user-customizable packing lists - BUILD lists quickly & easily with multi-item selection - MULTI-EDIT your lists however you wish (add, delete, rename or reorder any category or item) - DISCOVER new ideas & suggestions from included sample lists - USE any list (sample or your own) as a template for future lists - MONITOR a running tally of total items per category & how many of them are checked off - COLLAPSE categories for less scrolling & better management - SORT items by priority, type or item, or by hand - SHOW only items that are packed or unpacked, or show them all - FILTER items based on need to buy, person and/or bag - EDIT item details (number, weight, value, person, bag & notes) - ADD IMAGES, ALERTS, PRIORITIES & NEED-TO-BUY to list items - TOTAL your list items, weights & values, by bag, by person & by category - SEE remaining items as badges on home page & app icon - PRINT your list directly to a printer with 1, 2 or 3 columns - EMAIL your packing lists to family & friends 2) CATALOG FEATURES: - CUSTOMIZE the Master Catalog with 100% freedom (add, delete, rename or reorder any category, type or item) - SELECT from hundreds of items for quick list generation with only minimal typing - ACCESS an extensive pre-departure TO DO list with over 100 tasks - DEFINE your own categories, types, items & TO DO actions for more customized freedom & control - COPY & MOVE types & items throughout catalog - MULTI-EDIT your types & items (delete, move, copy or set) more quickly than one-by-one - SORT, CAPITALIZE & UNCAPITALIZE Quick, simple, reliable & infinitely customizable, let Packing Pro be your helpful travel companion on all of your trips. Bon voyage!

About

PackLight for Backpacking

This app helps backpackers create lightweight packing lists by organizing gear, tracking weights, and visualizing their impact. It allows users to build custom lists, share them, and even import from other services. An optional supporter edition unlocks advanced features for a one-time purchase.

Highlights
  • Organize gear by name, weight, and category
  • Build weight-aware packing lists
  • Visualize pack weight impact
  • Packing checklist functionality
  • Share packing lists via link or CSV
  • Import lists from LighterPack
  • Offline access to data
Features
Read full description

Keep your pack weight down and never forget crucial gear with PackLight, the packing list app for backpackers. Get PackLight today and be confident that you have exactly what you need - and only what you need - on your next adventure. CORE FEATURES (100% free / no sign up / no ads) - Organize Your Gear -- Inventory your gear by name, weight, and category. - Build Packing Lists -- Use your gear to build weight-aware packing lists. - Keep Your Backpack Light -- Instantly see how your gear choices impact pack weight. - Packing Checklist -- Check off items as you pack to ensure nothing is forgotten. - Share Packing Lists -- Post your list on packlightapp.com and share a link or send a CSV of your list to anyone. - Visualize Weight Distribution -- Use the bar graph to compare gear categories. - Custom Categories -- Organize items your way with your own categories. - Import From LighterPack -- Don't start from scratch - import your LighterPack lists (unaffiliated). - Offline Access -- Access your data even off the grid. Works without internet. ADVANCED FEATURES (Supporter Edition) Supporter Edition is a one-time purchase that supports ongoing maintenance and improvements to PackLight and grants permanent access to these advanced features: - Kits for Quick Packing -- Create kits to group items that you normally pack together, like a first aid kit or cooking gear, so you can add them all to a list at once. - Unlimited Base Lists -- Create new packing lists based on any combination of your other lists and kits. - Inventory Search -- Quickly find gear in your inventory. ABOUT PACKLIGHT PackLight was originally built for my own use and published free on the App Store to share with other backpackers. All of the core features are still free and always will be and it's been great to see PackLight become a favorite for so many! Thank you! If you think PackLight has earned it, I'd really appreciate your honest rating and review. They help a lot and I read every last one. Got an idea for improvement? Email me any time with feedback or feature requests at packlightapp@gmail.com.

Screenshots

Packing Pro4 screens
PackLight for Backpacking4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PackLight for Backpacking at Free against Packing Pro's $2.99. PackLight for Backpacking also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). Packing Pro's advantage is chart position (#183 vs unranked) and device support (3 vs 1). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

PackLight for Backpacking is free to download; Packing Pro costs $2.99 up front. Packing Pro sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and PackLight for Backpacking sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Packing Pro against 4.8 for PackLight for Backpacking. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 851 and 991 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of Packing Pro's written reviews are positive against 95% of PackLight for Backpacking's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Packing Pro ships an update every 4 months, PackLight for Backpacking every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Packing Pro versus PackLight for Backpacking: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPacking ProPackLight for Backpacking
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (851 ratings)4.8 (991 ratings)
Positive reviews88.2% of reviews95.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings851991 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#183 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS8.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperQuinn GenzelMark Oliveira

Customer experience

Packing Pro

All ratings851 ratings
Positive94.6%
Neutral1.3%
Negative4.1%
Written reviews380 reviews
Positive88.2%
Neutral3.7%
Negative8.2%

PackLight for Backpacking

All ratings991 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral3.0%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews145 reviews
Positive95.2%
Neutral2.8%
Negative2.1%

User reviews

Packing Pro

From 851 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great app
  • 🚀 Indispensable
  • 🚀 Fantastic tool
  • 🚀 Extremely useful
  • 👍 Customizable

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Complicated to use
  • 🐛 Unintuitive interface
  • 🐛 Buggy iCloud syncing
  • 🐛 Outdated design

PackLight for Backpacking

From 991 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 Helpful for planning and organizing gear
  • 👍 Useful for tracking gear weights
  • 👍 Great for creating custom packing lists
  • 👍 Simple and intuitive interface

Room to improve

  • 🔍 Lack of custom categories
  • 🔍 No ability to add notes or details to gear items
  • 🔍 No option to track purchase price or date
  • 🔍 Inability to easily share lists with others
  • 🔍 No cloud sync or backup functionality

Bugs and requests

Packing Pro

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashes after recent update
  • Blank app with errors

Requested features

3 requests
  • Real-time collaboration and sharing
  • Ability to print lists
  • Improved UI and user experience

PackLight for Backpacking

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Occasional issues with alphabetical sorting of lists
  • Reported bug with displaying the correct list when selected

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add ability to track purchase price and date for gear items
  • Implement custom category creation
  • Include option to add notes and details to gear items
  • Implement cloud sync and backup functionality
  • Add sharing capabilities to easily collaborate with others

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Packing Pro

One-time8
  • Extra Themes Upgrade$0.99
  • Extra Lists Upgrade$0.99
  • Nice Tip$0.99
Show 5 more
  • Photo Option$0.99
  • Generous Tip$1.99
  • Great Tip$2.99
  • Amazing Tip$4.99
  • Unbelievable Tipe$9.99
1 purchases

PackLight for Backpacking

One-time1
  • Supporter Edition$19.99

Questions

Is Packing Pro free?
Packing Pro costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is PackLight for Backpacking free?
PackLight for Backpacking is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Packing Pro or PackLight for Backpacking?
Packing Pro and PackLight for Backpacking are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 851 and 991 ratings respectively.
Do Packing Pro or PackLight for Backpacking have ads?
Neither Packing Pro nor PackLight for Backpacking shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Packing Pro or PackLight for Backpacking?
Packing Pro ships an update every 4 months, and PackLight for Backpacking every 2 months. Most recently, Packing Pro was updated on September 23, 2026 and PackLight for Backpacking on September 22, 2026.

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